Ask Musharraf to vacate Army House

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Supreme Court has been urged to direct President Pervez Musharraf to vacate the Army House as he is no longer entitled to stay there.

Citing the constitution, the petition, filed by Jamil Akhter of Lahore-based NGO Save the Judiciary Committee, pointed out that Musharraf had stepped down as army chief in November 2007 but he was "still illegally occupying the Army House".

Since the matter was of "great importance", the Supreme Court should step in and direct Musharraf to leave the Army House so that the present army chief, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, could move in.

"The petitioner accused President Musharraf of being involved in illegal activities for nine years," Dawn reported on Thursday.

Musharraf had stepped down as army chief on Nov 28, 2007, a day before he was sworn in for a second term as president - this time as a civilian.

Citing security concerns, he, however, continues to reside in the Army House in the adjacent garrison town of Rawalpindi instead of at the Aiwan-e-Sadar presidential palace here.

Meanwhile, Kayani has ordered the removal of all sensitive communications equipment from the Army House.